Efficiency Commission Wants Preliminary Report Ready by January

Published: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 at 12:59 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 at 12:59 p.m.

BARTOW | Efficiency Commission members agreed this week to narrow their focus so they can come up with a preliminary report by January.

That focus will have the commission's Tallahassee consultant, MGT of America, create a “report card” on existing departments under County Commission and devise a plan to institutionalize the efficiencies and cost-cutting measures that have occurred during the recession so they will continue even when the revenue picture improves.

Preliminary results will be presented at the next meeting, which is tentatively scheduled within the next two months, but no firm date has been set.

Monday's meeting was scheduled after commission members said they wanted a more clear picture of what the consultants are proposing they discuss.

Travis Miller, one of the consultants, said the three largest departments that will probably be examined are utilities, public works and fire/rescue.

“They're big and sprawling departments,'' he said.

At this week's meeting and at earlier meetings, Miller said the recession forced many of the efficiencies that they would normally recommend, explaining the challenge is to keep those efficiencies in place.

Commission members agreed.

“Can we spend the next three months looking at where they didn't tighten their belt and lets put something in place when the money is flowing, that we curtail the amount of money that's spent when we go forward,'' said member Greg Masters.

He also acknowledged that county officials are free to accept or reject any recommendations the panel makes.

Member Sarah Case, a private consultant for developers, said it's important to look not only on how money is spent, but how county officials conduct business.

She suggested the consultants observe the Development Review Committee, a committee of county technical staff members that reviews new development applications.

“We will be doing that,'' Miller said.

The 25-member panel was appointed in January by a committee made up of local government and business leaders.

It is required to be appointed periodically under Polk County's charter.

[ Tom Palmer can be reached at tom.palmer@theledger.com or 863-802-7535. Read more views on the environment at http://environment.blogs.theledger.com and more views on county government at http://county.blogs.theledger.com/. Follow on Twitter @LedgerTom. ]

<p>BARTOW | Efficiency Commission members agreed this week to narrow their focus so they can come up with a preliminary report by January.</p><p>That focus will have the commission's Tallahassee consultant, MGT of America, create a “report card” on existing departments under County Commission and devise a plan to institutionalize the efficiencies and cost-cutting measures that have occurred during the recession so they will continue even when the revenue picture improves.</p><p>Preliminary results will be presented at the next meeting, which is tentatively scheduled within the next two months, but no firm date has been set.</p><p>Monday's meeting was scheduled after commission members said they wanted a more clear picture of what the consultants are proposing they discuss.</p><p>Travis Miller, one of the consultants, said the three largest departments that will probably be examined are utilities, public works and fire/rescue.</p><p>“They're big and sprawling departments,'' he said.</p><p>At this week's meeting and at earlier meetings, Miller said the recession forced many of the efficiencies that they would normally recommend, explaining the challenge is to keep those efficiencies in place.</p><p>Commission members agreed.</p><p>“Can we spend the next three months looking at where they didn't tighten their belt and lets put something in place when the money is flowing, that we curtail the amount of money that's spent when we go forward,'' said member Greg Masters.</p><p>He also acknowledged that county officials are free to accept or reject any recommendations the panel makes.</p><p>Member Sarah Case, a private consultant for developers, said it's important to look not only on how money is spent, but how county officials conduct business.</p><p>She suggested the consultants observe the Development Review Committee, a committee of county technical staff members that reviews new development applications.</p><p>“We will be doing that,'' Miller said.</p><p>The 25-member panel was appointed in January by a committee made up of local government and business leaders.</p><p>It is required to be appointed periodically under Polk County's charter.</p><p>[ Tom Palmer can be reached at tom.palmer@theledger.com or 863-802-7535. Read more views on the environment at http://environment.blogs.theledger.com and more views on county government at http://county.blogs.theledger.com/. Follow on Twitter @LedgerTom. ]</p>